Whoa! I didn't expect so many negative comments. Let me explain!
After looking at each photo submitted for the Steemit Photo Challenge, I selected only those, which I consider of acceptable quality (nothing blurry, crooked, etc.) - and believe me when I say that there are A LOT of photos for this popular challenge and reviewing each separate submission, by every author, takes hours.
I ended up with a selection of (technically good) photos, which had green leaves, brown leaves, red leaves, people's faces in leaves, feet in leaves , dogs running in leaves, kids throwing leaves up, friends laughing among leaves, houses covered in autumn foliage, autumn panoramas, where leaves were as big as a pixel, and so on, and so on.
So, the topic of the competition was perceived differently and subjectively by everyone, which is a very good thing - we are in search of diverse and original art work. As a photographer myself, I also favor certain styles of photography and therefore my opinion is subjective as well - that's the purpose of inviting guest judges. If you've followed me or Steemit's Photo Challenge, you will be very much aware of my style, as I've already had the privilege of winning a first and a second place in this cool competition.
As a street photographer, I would certainly favor any photos with autumn foliage, which had a subject in them, something to create a feeling of movement, of expectancy. It could've been a hand dropping a red leaf, a macro shot of a bug on a yellow leaf, or even a lovely autumn scenery of people in the distance (like the photo, which won second place). Foliage was the canvas on which you had to draw on!
I really didn't expect people to be disgruntled that a photo with a leaf centered in the middle of the frame didn't win the competition. If this was the idea of this competition, I have obviously failed your expectations. As far as my understanding of art photography, I've selected the best photos, featuring autumn foliage, from all the submissions.
p.s. Sorting through all the photos was hard work! @jamtaylor is doing it every week, for our pleasure - he truly deserves respect for his efforts (we should also buy him a BIG beer! :D).
As someone who did the judging one week, I agree it is not easy. It takes a LOT of time, mental energy, and computer memory (:P) to look at all of the posts and try to figure out which ones are best. I think you did a fine job, and only one picture selected as an honorable mention doesn't fit the theme (imo). Nobody's perfect :P
Not impressed with the judging this week especially when you've stated you didn't want blurry yet 70% of the photos you choose had blur
but thank you for your time and effort because there was a lot of entrants and it is in your opinion as a judge like all judges and humans we don't always agree
https://steemit.com/steemitphotchallenge/@knight-angel/steemit-photo-challenge-the-ups-and-downs
Your strong opinion signifies that you have enough photography experience to judge other photographers. Yet you are having difficulties discerning blurry photos from photos with bokeh.
so you voted my reply down how immature like burying your head in the sand
so your telling me that you choose 70 % of the photos with the Bokeh effect which in lay mans terms the Japanese word for blur or haze
seems a bit one way to me a variety would have been more effective choice, because the challenge brief did NOT say a "autumn foliage with bokeh effect and possibly if you can include a portrait while your at it"
Upvoted not in agreement but because I thought it was unfairly hidden by flagging. Carry on.
thank you for your support
@dek check better, the first prize is given to a human portrait, not autumn foliage.
I think you picked good submissions, @dek. The theme was autumn foliage, yes. But part of art (Afterall, what is photography if not an art form) is taking whatever theme you're given, and putting your own personal spin on it. Just because the theme was autumn foliage, doesn't mean it has to be STRICTLY of autumn foliage, so long as whatever submission adequately portrays the theme. Artists are supposed to think outside of the box, and nothing in art is ever just a literal interpretation.
Just my 2 cents, for what it's worth.